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LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Energy Office (MEO) today announced a new program that offers rebates to eligible small manufacturers in the Upper Peninsula for energy waste reduction (EWR) activities and projects.
“This program will help jump-start a variety of energy waste reduction activities at small manufacturers in the U.P., where manufacturers face many challenges, including some of the highest electric rates in the country, and improving energy efficiency is essential to being competitive,” said Anne Armstrong Cusack, executive director of the Michigan Agency for Energy, of which the Michigan Energy Office is part.
The maximum financial incentive is $10,000 per facility.
Proposed activities must be directed to achieving onsite EWR at the manufacturing facility, provide a minimum 1:1 match, and involve no equipment item costing $5,000 or more.
LED lights, renewable energy, fuel switching, and activities involving new construction, ground breaking, new and/or modified environmental permits and modification of any historical building are ineligible.
Examples of EWR activities that are eligible include:
- Technical assistance from consultants, state and federal programs, or engineering firms, etc., and/or participation in EWR programs offered by utilities, associations or state and federal government.
- Implementation of onsite EWR continual improvement practices.
- Completion of certified EWR training.
- Level II and Level III American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) energy audits.
Eligibility Requirements: Small manufacturers located in the Upper Peninsula with 50 or fewer full-time employees worldwide. Applicants must agree to reporting project energy savings, completing a one-year follow-up survey, and an MEO news release about the project’s success.
Funding: Total funding for this initiative is limited to $75,000.
More information, along with the rebate application, is located here.
Questions about the program may be emailed to David Herb at herbd@michigan.gov.
